September 1 is "Disaster Prevention Day," let's learn about earthquakes while playing during summer vacation! Namazubito Disaster Prevention Karuta" on sale on August 1 A pop and comical disaster learning tool with Ukiyoe motifs

IMIARU-DESIGN (located in Hiratsuka City, Kanagawa Prefecture; Maiko Ishida, President and Designer; hereinafter Ishida), whose motto is "Design with Meaning (Reason)," will start selling "Namazubito Bosai Karuta (Earthquake Edition)," an original new type of disaster prevention tool for learning about earthquakes, on August 1, 2024. In anticipation of Disaster Prevention Day on September 1, summer vacation is an ideal opportunity for parents and children to learn and become aware of disasters while playing together. The product will also serve as a disaster education tool for parents and children to learn about disaster prevention in advance in preparation for earthquakes that may occur at any time after the summer vacation.

Namazubito Disaster Prevention Karuta Product Image

URL "Namazubito Disaster Prevention Karuta": https://karuta.imiaru-design.com/

Background

In today's earthquake-prone Japan, there are many tools developed for use after an earthquake, such as disaster prevention alerts, and products that can be used after a disaster strikes, but there tend to be few tools to help people learn about disaster prevention in advance. Ishida, a native of Tohoku, was looking for a way to learn about disaster prevention in daily life and play, focusing on the information and knowledge he gained from his research and interviews on "earthquake and disaster prevention" at the Art University of Tokyo. Inspired by the "catfish pictures" of the Edo period, Ishida put them into the form of a traditional karuta (Japanese playing cards), and the "Namazu-bito Bosai Karuta" was born.

Product Features

*"Namazu-bito" inspired by Ukiyoe

During the chaos that followed the Ansei-Edo Earthquake in the Edo period (1603-1868), Ukiyoe paintings depicting catfish, which were originally believed to symbolize earthquakes, became very popular as a good-luck charm to ward off earthquakes or to "redeem" the world. The comical patterns and contents of "catfish pictures" show the strength of the people of Edo, who "re-made" and lived even after being hit by an earthquake. In order to pass them on to children, "catfish pictures" were reborn by Ishida as "Namazu-bito," traditional yet pop and charming.

*There is a trick on the back of the picture cards, too!

Namazu-bito Bosai Karuta" is a product that serves not only as a game of cards, but also as a tool for learning about disasters. On the back of the picture cards, "Disaster Prevention Mamekichiki" is written, which can be read out by the person who picks up the card to further deepen his/her knowledge. The "Disaster Prevention Mashi-Chiki" includes furigana (phonetic alphabets), making it easy for even young children to understand and enjoy learning.

A unique tool for playing and learning with all five senses

Because karuta can be played repeatedly, young children can gradually understand difficult words through the picture cards. In "Namazubito Bosai Karuta", you can listen with your ears, see with your eyes, and touch the cards. By using all five senses to play the game over and over again, children can accumulate knowledge about disaster prevention in case of emergency, making it a unique learning tool.

Outer box and tags

Outer box and tags_2

The Catamaran and the Cat

Outline of the product

Product name: Namazubito disaster prevention karuta (earthquake version)

Release date ： August 1, 2024 (Thursday)

Price ： 2,980 yen (tax included)

Graphic Design: Maiko Ishida

Production Supervisor : IMIAL DESIGN

Contents ： 44 picture cards, 44 reading cards, 1 instruction manual

Ages ： 6 years old and up (Hiragana-reading age and up)

Sales location ： BASE, POPUP

URL ： https://karuta.imiaru-design.com/

■We want to save someone's life somewhere through karuta.

Maiko Ishida, Graphic Designer, IMIARU-DESIGN Comment

I created "Namazubito Bosai Karuta" as my graduation project at university a few years before the Great East Japan Earthquake. As a native of the earthquake-prone Tohoku region, I was researching how I could design something that would help people under the theme of "earthquake. When I went to the disaster areas to conduct on-site interviews, I realized that "there are few things that can be designed on the spur of the moment when a disaster strikes. However, when I was wondering if there was anything I could do to give form to the ancient lore and knowledge I had gathered, I was inspired by the shape of a karuta playing cards. And inspired by the strong message of "catfish pictures," this "Namazubito Disaster Prevention Karuta" was born.

I hope that this karuta will spread, even if only a little, and that those who play it will update their awareness of disaster prevention, even if only a little, and that it will help save someone's life somewhere.

Profile of the creator

Maiko Ishida, IMIARU-DESIGN

Graduated from Musashino Art University, Department of Visual Communication Design. After working for a manufacturer, a production company, and an advertising agency, she became independent. She launched Imial Design with the motto, "Design with meaning (reason).

Currently, focusing on branding and web production, he is helping to give shape to someone's thoughts and feelings.

Company Profile

Company name: IMIAL DESIGN

Representative: Maiko Ishida, President

Location ： Hiratsuka-shi, Kanagawa

Establishment ： August, 2016

Business description: Design business, web production business, karuta business

URL ： https://imiaru-design.com/